KLPGA 2009 Hill State Seoul Kyongjae Open Rd 3

At the start of round 3, virtually unknown player Hyun Joo Lee held a three shot lead over tour star So Yeon Ryu and a four shot lead over several other players. However, playing in the final group, Lee and Ryu both struggled quite a bit on the front nine. Lee was two over after nine holes, while Ryu was four over par. Lee could afford it, though, and at that point she still held a two shot lead over the field, while Ryu found herself five back of Lee.

Hyun Joo Lee

Ryu began making a comeback on the par 5 11th when she made eagle. Lee made par on the same hole, and so her lead over Ryu was cut to 3. But Ryu found it hard to be consistent after that. She made bogey on the next hole, then two straight birdies, then another bogey, then another birdie. In the end, Ryu came back to 6 under, which was good enough for third place, but not for the win.

So Yeon Ryu

Sun Ju Ahn started the day four back, but shot a 73 on the day and never challenged.

Sun Ju Ahn

The only player who looked like she could unseat Lee was first round co-leader Soo Young Moon. Moon made four birdies on the back nine to finish the day at 8 under. But Lee made birdies on 12 and 14 to move to 10 under, where she had started the day. With Moon having finished, all Lee had to do was par out and the title was hers.

And that’s just what she did! Hyun Joo Lee’s final round was not pretty, but her 72 was still more than enough for her to capture the win.

Hyun Joo Lee wins!

She nearly was a Cinderella at the Match Play, only to be blown out on the final day. But she completed the job here with a two stroke victory. Congratulations to her on her first win!